Fine tip stylus nd pen with aperture for coaxial, retraction and placement

ABSTRACT

A writing instrument for alternating between a active stylus tip and an ink pen tip which is retractable from and displaceable through an annular opening at one end of the writing instrument is disclosed.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present invention claims priority to Provisional U.S. PatentApplication 62/752,132, filed on Oct. 29, 2018.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a pen having a first end and a second(tip) end for applying an fine tip, active stylus for writing on anelectronic tablet surface or the like, or, alternatively, a pen tip forwriting upon paper or other ink impressionable surfaces. Morespecifically, the present disclosure includes a pen tip and a stylus tipwhich can extend through the same annular opening of a pen barrel,wherein the stylus tip and/or the pen tip is retractable so as toalternate between applications.

Background of the Invention

The use of stylus tips to simulate writing tool for electronic tabletsurfaces and the like have been well known for some time. Generally,there exist passive, conductive stylus tips which work off of staticelectricity derived from the user, and active or powered stylus tipsthat require the use of a battery, but provide better operationalfunction. In addition, a common approach available for stylus tipproducts involve the use of broad tipped and fine tipped stylus heads.While broad tipped stylus surfaces enable more “landscape” to provide apen combination solution, such stylus tips have the tendency to obscurethe writing surface being contacted, and feel and work less like atypical writing instrument, and thus are less desired than fine tipstylus solutions.

Regardless of the type of active stylus tip, however, there are noavailable products that permit a user to easily switch from a tip for anactive stylus to a pen tip for writing with ink without switching endsof the instrument (e.g., through the use of a cap or similar componentwhich could be lost).

What is needed is a combination electronic and ink writing instrumentincluding the ability to retract the ink pen type and/or the fine stylustip in order to switch quickly from one writing surface to another usingthe same pen tip region, and without the need to move or switchcomponents that could be lost.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are used in the claims of the patent as filed andare intended to have their broadest plain and ordinary meaningconsistent with the requirements of the law.

A fine stylus tip is a stylus tip with a diameter of 3 mm or less,preferably 2.4 mm or less.

An active stylus is an input device with a battery or similar powersource that includes electronic components and allows users to writedirectly onto the display of a computing device.

A stylus power activation mechanism is a device for connecting the powersource (e.g., a battery and power PCB circuit) with a control board inorder to send an electronic signal from the active stylus to theelectronic touch screen during engagement. Examples of such poweractivation mechanisms including manually activated sliding components,or pen barrel components with electric contacts for twisting to provideengagement between the power source and the control board.

A control board is a PCB that allows the stylus tip to communicate withthe touch screen controller via a electrical signal.

A power PCB circuit is a battery source plus, preferably a connector,such as a USB connector, and preferably related circuitry for supplyinga recharge to the battery source.

An annulus tip refers to an opening in a stylus surface which canaccommodate an ink pen tip therethrough. This tip, however, does notpreclude mechanisms in the stylus tip PCB or components of the pen frombeing otherwise axially offset from one another.

A ceramic tip refers to a ceramic or any other material which does notinterfere with the capacitive function of the stylus tip.

Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning isintended. All words used in the claims set forth below are intended tobe used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the Englishlanguage.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The apparatus and method of the present disclosure includes a generallycylindrical writing instrument that is comprised of a first end and asecond end. At the first end is a main PCB or similar circuitry and abattery powering the stylus, as well as other optional features such asa USB port for recharging the battery. Towards the second end is a tipPCB and pen components (such as a pen tip or nib). The second end of thewriting instrument an annular opening for receiving a pen tip and/or astylus tip (preferably a fine stylus tip) therethrough. The tip PCB isoffset or shifted axially to one side to allow the pen to slide throughthe center of the stylus tip. In an alternative version, the pen tip andstylus tip are essentially in parallel with one another, and can bealternatively urged through the annulus at the second end. The pen tipregion may be of ceramic so as to avoid interference with the electricalfunctionality of the stylus. The body of the pen may be constructed of aconductive material to enable a grounding connection with a ground wireor lead extending from the main PCB to the body of the pen.

The pen tip and/or stylus tip may be extended or retracted through theannulus of the stylus through a twisting mechanism between top andbottom pen portions. In one embodiment, the stylus tip is adjacent asecond (control) PCB which, when the twisting mechanism is actuated,creates an electrical contact between the main PCB and the control PCBto power the stylus when extended. In a further variant, the stylus tipeither with or without the control PCB) may be moved up and down via asliding mechanism instead of twisting so as to extend and retract thefine stylus tip.

The immediate application of the present invention will be seen inactive, batter powered fine tip stylus devices, though those of skillwill see that the present invention could be applied to passive or broadtip stylus devices where quick and easy rotation between electronic andink writing surfaces may be advantageous.

Thus can be seen that one object of the present invention is to providea mechanism for combining a pend tip and an active stylus tip in asingle end of a writing instrument.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism forretracting and extending a pen tip with ease through a fine stylus tip.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide aretractable and extendable fine stylus tip which can be withdrawn asdesired to provide a user with a truer pen operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a fine stylustip and an ink pen in a single writing instrument.

It should be noted that not every embodiment of the claimed inventionwill accomplish each of the objects of the invention set forth above. Inaddition, further objects of the invention will become apparent based onthe summary of the invention, the detailed description of preferredembodiments, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Suchobjects, features, and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent in light of the following detailed description variousembodiments thereof, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1a and 1b show existing stylus pen layouts as known in the art.

FIGS. 2a and 2b show front and side views, respectively, of aretractable pen tip in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show front and side views, respectively, of aretractable fine stylus tip in accordance with another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a retractable stylus andpen tips in accord with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Set forth below is a description of what is currently believed to be thepreferred embodiment or best examples of the invention claimed. Futureand present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodimentare contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which makeinsubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in resultare intended to be covered by the claims in this patent.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show standard, known elements of a stylus pen cylinder10, including a main PCB 20, a battery 30, a tip PCB 40 and a stylus tip50.

FIGS. 2a and 2b , by comparison, show a first preferred embodiment of acombination ink pen and stylus pen cylinder 110 comprising a main PCB120, a battery 130, a tip PCI 140 and a stylus tip 150. In addition, thecylinder 110 houses a pen comprised of the top portion 134, the bottomportion 136, a replaceable ink cartridge 139, a mechanism 132 forextending and retracting the pen, and an electrical connection 138 toseparate the top 134 and bottom 136 portions and to allow the top torotate such that the pen tip 154 extends and retracts. In addition thestylus tip 150 of this embodiment defines a hole or annulus that allowsthe pen tip to extend and retract therethrough, with the pen tip 154preferably being a ceramic or similar material so as to preventelectrical interference with the fine stylus tip 150.

FIGS. 3a and 3b , by comparison, show a similar but different embodimentcylinder 210 comprising a main PCB 220, a battery 230, a tip PCB 240 anda stylus tip 250. This embodiment is very similar to the firstembodiment, with the exception that the mechanism 232 for extending andretracting the tip instead enables retraction and extension of thestylus tip 250 so as to enable the user to feel that a truer penoperation in practice. Of course, those of skill in the art willappreciate that that the above described two embodiments need notoperate exclusive of one another. That is, the present invention isintended to disclose and teach a writing instrument wherein the ink penand/or the stylus pen are retractable and extendable for operation.

Another alternative embodiment is disclosed in FIG. 4. As with the otherembodiments, the device includes cylinder 310 made up of a barrelportion 336 at the second end, a cap portion 337 at the first end with acap sleeve 338 extending therefrom to slidingly engage the barrelportion 336.

In the cap portion is contained a main or power PCB 320, a battery 330,and cap connectors 346 on the cap sleeve 338 for the cap assembly 337 todeliver power from the battery. Optionally, the cap portion 337 can alsoinclude a power port insulator 370 for housing a USB connector (notshown) for recharging the battery 330.

In the barrel portion 336 is located a front or tip PCB 340 and a barrelinsert 360 for holding a stylus tip 350 and a pen insert 352 for userselection. User selection enables extension and retraction of the stylustip 350 or pen 352, as desired, through the tip 354 connected to thebarrel portion 336, the tip 354 defining an annular opening. The barrelportion 336 further has connected thereto barrel connectors 344 forselectively receiving power to be provided to the tip PCB 340 by thebattery 330 through front PCR wire 342 which then extend through topower the stylus tip 350. The user can manually rotate the cap portion337 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation to select eitherthe stylus 350 or pen 352 in a manner known to those of skill in theart. However, in the event the user rotates cap portion 337 in adirection to actuate the stylus tip 350 through the tip 354, suchrotation will at the same time cause the cap connectors 346 to contactthe barrel connectors 344, thus delivering power from battery 330 to thefront or tip PCB 340, which creates an active charge in the stylus tip350 such that the tip can communicate with sensors in the screen of anelectronic touch screen while extended, while disconnecting or poweringdown the stylus tip 350 upon retraction through the tip.

In at least some preferred embodiments, the use of a non-metallic tip354, whether plastic or ceramic or a comparable material may bedesirable to avoid interfering with the capacitive functioning of thestylus tip 350 while engaged. Similarly, the selection of conductivematerials for the barrel portion 336 and the cap portion 337 canlikewise be important to enable the electrical grounding of the frontPCB 340 and the back PCB 320 via ground wires (not shown). Further, itshould be noted that this embodiment enables the fixed placement of thetip PCB 340 in the barrel portion 336 such that the actuation of thestylus tip 350 causes movement of the stylus tip relative to the tip PCB340. However, people of skill in the art having the present teachingcould enable the movement of the tip PCB 340 and the stylus tip 350 intandem with one another, if desired. Similarly, people of skill havingthe present disclosure will understand that the mechanism for selectingbetween the stylus 350 and the pen 352 can be not just the twistingmechanism described above, but also sliding or depressing buttons on thecap portion 337 such as found with multipen devices known in the art.

The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the wordsused in the following claims that define the invention. Rather, it iscontemplated that future modifications in structure, function or resultwill exist that are not substantial changes and that all suchinsubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered bythe claims. For instance, the specific pen extension and retractionmechanisms used in the examples of the preferred embodiments of presentinvention is for illustrative purposes with reference to the exampledrawings only. Also, while the certain preferred embodiment deals withactive stylus pens having a fine tip, the invention may be applicable toother forms of stylus, too. Similarly, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that various changes, additions, omissions, andmodifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present invention. All suchmodifications and changes are intended to be covered by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination active, tip stylus and ink pencomprising: a) A cylinder defining an annulus, the cylinder having afirst end and a second end; b) A batten and a main PCB circuit proximatethe first end of the cylinder for powering the stylus; c) An activestylus tip disposed at the second end of the cylinder, the stylus tipdefining a second annulus coaxial with the annulus of the cylinder; andd) At least one ink pen tip retractable and extendable through thesecond annulus; Whereby a user can select between the stylus tip and theat least one ink pen tip for application from the second end of thecylinder.
 2. A combination active stylus and ink pen comprising: a) Acylinder defining an annulus, the cylinder having a first end and asecond end; b) A battery and a power PCB circuit proximate the first endof the cylinder for powering the stylus; c) An active stylus having astylus tip and an ink pen tip disposed at the second end of thecylinder, the active stylus and ink pen tip parallel with one another,the active stylus further being in electrical communication with acontrol board proximate the second end of the cylinder, the controlboard enabling the translation of movement by the stylus tip to anelectronic touch screen in communication with the stylus tip; and d) Atstylus power activation mechanism for selectively coupling the power PCBcircuit and the control circuit upon the extension of the stylus tipthrough the second end of the cylinder; whereby a user can selectbetween the stylus tip and the at least one ink pen tip for applicationfrom the second end of the cylinder.
 3. The combination active stylusand ink pen of claim 2, wherein the control board has a fixedrelationship with at least the second end of the cylinder, and thecontrol board had a moving relationship with the stylus tip duringactuation of the stylus tip.
 4. The combination active, fine tip stylusand ink pen of claim 2, wherein the stylus power activation mechanismcomprises a first end portion of the cylinder and a second end portionof the cylinder, wherein the first end portion may be rotated to enableelectrical communication between the power PCB and the control circuit.